August 16, 2007

LAKELAND - Annie Pearl Powell, 88, of Lakeland died Tuesday August 14, 2007 at her residence of heart failure.

She was born on 4-20-1919 in Savannah, GA. She was in retail clothing sales. She was a member of Lakeside Baptist Church.

She was predeceased by her husband Bertis Powell and son Bert "Obbie" Powell. She is survived by her daughter Linda Chancey of Lakeland, sisters Essie Smiley of Savannah, GA and Myrtle Edwards of Bakersfield, CA and 5 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Visitation is Friday from 9-10:00am at Gentry-Morrison Southside, 1727 Bartow Rd with services to follow at 10:00am in the chapel. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.

August 15, 2007

LAKELAND - Mrs. Sophia Harvey Meyers, 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home Monday August 13, 2007 due to heart failure.

Sophie was born September 30, 1917 in Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. Meyers moved to Lakeland from Pompano Beach, Fl five years ago.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ted Harvey; second husband, Ernest Meyers; and she is survived by her son Ric Harvey and his wife AJ; granddaughter, Amber Harvey; grandson, Chad Harvey and his fiancee Candice Neal; great-grand daughter, Chloe Harvey; and many other nieces and nephews.

LAKELAND - Douglas W. Meadows, 87, of Lakeland died Monday, August 13, 2007 at his home of cancer.

He was born February 20, 1920 in Houston County, AL to Judge and Cody Harper Meadows and moved to Lakeland in 1947. Douglas was a heavy equipment operator for over forty years; an avid hunter & fisherman and a member of the West Lakeland Church of God.

He was united in marriage on Nov. 12, 1938 to Edna Harrell who resides in Lakeland. Doug is also survived by his two sons, Bruce Betty Meadows of Tallahassee and Billy LaJean Meadows of Lakeland; his daughter, Janice Barry Wyatt of Lakeland; six grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren also survive.

Friends and family will be received from 6-8 pm Wednesday at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Duke-Steen Chapel, Lakeland where funeral services will be held 10 00 am Thursday. Interment will take place in Oak Hill Burial Park.

LAKELAND - Mrs. Lillian Arnold Hall, 86, departed this life to be with our Lord on August 11, 2007 after a long courageous battle, and heart failure.

She was born in Morgantown, West Virginia on June 23, 1921. She was known to all as a caring, loving, free hearted lady whose smile lit up the room. She touched many lives and had a ministry of sending cards to anyone she thought needed a spirit lift. She loved to bake things and give people gifts. She faced tough times with a smile and her faith in God. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Most recently she worked as a demo lady for Publix Wabash store. She was a faithful member of West Lakeland Church Of God for 52 years.

She leaves behind five children: Troy (Diane) Arnold, Callahan, Fl., William (Barbara) Arnold Jr., Charlotte, NC, John (Claudia) Arnold, Boone, NC., David Arnold, Lakeland, Fl., Karen (Doug) Broadway, Charlotte, NC, and a sister, Nancy Hatfield, California., along with six grandchildren: Natasha, Christopher, John Jr., David Jr., Douglas, Daniel and three great-grandchildren, four step grandchildren, seven step great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and a abundance of friends. She was preceded in death by her late husband Geray Hall and her first husband of 26 years William (Bill) Arnold, along with 2 sisters and a brother.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 P.M. on Thursday at Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel. Services will be on Friday, August 17, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. from West Lakeland Church of God, 1942 W. Memorial Blvd. Lakeland. Interment follows at Oak Hill Burial Park.

She was born in Charleston, WV on 10/21/23. Ms. Buckner resided in Lakeland from 1973 to 2002, and at the time of her death she lived with daughter Vicky Hughes in Hamilton, OH. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Ms. Buckner was preceded in death by her husband, Charles "Woody" Buckner in July 2000. She is survived by her daughters Linda Hayes of Leesburg, Vicky Hughes, Hamilton, OH, son Charles W. Buckner, Jr. of Lakeland; sisters Freda Beasley and Mina Petrich of Cleveland, OH and Marcine Burdette of Charleston, W.Va.; brothers Carl Norman of Conroe, TX, Ronald Norman of Summersville, Fl, Wesley Norman of Cleveland, OH and Wayne Norman of Lakeland. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Leslie Ballew and Ashlie Hughes of Hamilton, Oh and 6 grandsons, Kerry Hayes of Yankeetown, Fl, Kevin Hayes of Tampa, Fl, Kris Hayes of Lakeland, Bryan, Jimmy and Johnny Buckner of Lakeland, as well as 5 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be Thurs., 8/16 from 6-8pm at Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd. Services will be conducted Fri. 10:00am at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4450 Harden Blvd. Interment will follow at Florida National Cemetery at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund or the American Heart Assoc.